During a hard winter with many electricians out of work, Cliff Hess has been given a job installing fire/burglar, communication, and energy management systems. He is a good craftsman but has not worked on this kind of job for several years. He took the work because he needs the money. His performance on the job is just barely good enough to keep him from being fired. The quantity and quality of his work is only fair. What leadership action should the supervisor use?

During a hard winter with many electricians out of work, Cliff Hess has been given a job installing fire/burglar, communication, and energy management systems. He is a good craftsman but has not worked on this kind of job for several years. He took the work because he needs the money. His performance on the job is just barely good enough to keep him from being fired. The quantity and quality of his work is only fair. What leadership action should the supervisor use?

• A. None required
• B. Directive
• C. Supportive
• D. Coercive

Answer: (B)

This item tests choosing a directive leadership approach when a worker is capable but not current on the task and shows only fair performance. Cliff is a skilled craftsman, but he hasn’t worked on this kind of job for years, and his output is just barely adequate. In a safety‑critical, technically demanding assignment, the supervisor should provide clear, concrete guidance and close supervision to ensure procedures are followed correctly and safety standards are met. The directive approach involves giving explicit instructions, specifying how to perform each step, setting the standards and timelines, and monitoring progress until Cliff regains proficiency. A supportive style would focus more on morale and motivation, which isn’t sufficient here because the task requires precise methods and compliance. Coercive action would be too harsh and could undermine safety and performance, and saying none is required would ignore the current performance gap.

This item tests choosing a directive leadership approach when a worker is capable but not current on the task and shows only fair performance. Cliff is a skilled craftsman, but he hasn’t worked on this kind of job for years, and his output is just barely adequate. In a safety‑critical, technically demanding assignment, the supervisor should provide clear, concrete guidance and close supervision to ensure procedures are followed correctly and safety standards are met. The directive approach involves giving explicit instructions, specifying how to perform each step, setting the standards and timelines, and monitoring progress until Cliff regains proficiency.

A supportive style would focus more on morale and motivation, which isn’t sufficient here because the task requires precise methods and compliance. Coercive action would be too harsh and could undermine safety and performance, and saying none is required would ignore the current performance gap.